The Hershey Bears announced on Friday that Capitals’ defensive prospect Alex Alexeyev has been officially loaned to the Bears on a long-term injury conditioning assignment.
MORE FROM THE BEARS
The Washington Capitals announced today that defenseman Alex Alexeyev has been assigned to the Hershey Bears on a long-term injury conditioning loan. The announcement was made by Washington’s senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan.
Alexeyev, 22, has not played this season after having shoulder surgery in June. In 2021-22 for Hershey, the 6’4″, 210-pound defender appeared in 68 games, posting 19 points (1g, 18a). He also skated in three Calder Cup Playoff games for the Chocolate and White, tallying one assist. Over three seasons with Hershey, Alexeyev has scored 49 points (6g, 43a) in 138 career AHL games.
He [is a] native of St. Petersburg, Russia earned his first call-up to the National Hockey League last year, debuting in Washington’s 5-3 win over Nashville on Dec. 29, 2021. He was selected by the Capitals in the first round, 31st overall, in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Alexeyev and the Bears return to action tonight in Hartford. Hershey visits the Wolf Pack at 7 p.m. at the XL Center. The game is available to listen to on the Highmark Bears Radio Network and to watch on AHLTV.
It is believed that Alexeyev is very close to returning to the Bears lineup. He has been working out with the team since being re-assigned from Capitals’ training camp on September 30. In addition, Bears radio noted in a recent broadcast that Alexeyev was very close to returning.
A loan of this type is normally for three games (or six days) but can be extended for an additional two depending on how he responds. To be loaned, he doesn’t need to clear waivers, though it did require them to move him from season-opening IR to LTIR. That placement is retroactive to October 11.
Once Alexeyev completes his rehab assignment, he will return to the Capitals and a decision will need to be made. The Capitals are currently at the maximum 23-man roster limit, so another player will need to be moved to make room for Alexeyev’s return.
The Capitals could re-assign a waivers-exempt player to Hershey (Connor McMichael or Aliaksei Protas), expose a non-waivers-exempt player by waiving the player in hopes of returning the player to Hershey, or a trade is even possible.
INJURIES
The Capitals announced on June 18 that Alexeyev had undergone labral repair surgery on his left shoulder and was expected to miss 4-5 months. Today marks four months and 10 days since the official announcement.
Alexeyev has dealt with quite a few injuries in his career, but most of them have occurred while playing for the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Alexeyev sustained no less than eight injuries in 156 games played over the his three seasons with Red Deer.
The injuries ranged from moderate to severe, capping his WHL seasons at 41, 45 and 49 regular season games played (out of 72 regular season games in the WHL). That’s 45%, 33% and 28% of the games over the three seasons. (More on his WHL injuries here.)
Alexeyev has been much more resilient during his first three seasons in the AHL, playing 68 games during his rookie campaign, 12 games in the Covid-shortened 2020-21 season (he played a full season in the KHL prior to coming to Hershey for the finish of the season) and 58 games in the 2021-22 season.
Alexeyev, 22, was the Capitals first round draft pick (#31 overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 6’-4” left-handed defenseman signed a three-year entry-level contract on September 24, 2018 for $863,333 AAV. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2022-23 season.
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Good to hear. Will be good to see him back in action. Capitals will have a decision to make regarding him shortly.
He will get to eventually return to Caps, but then he is vulnerable to waivers from there.
In other “news”:
so perhaps Alex Alex plays RD, but I sure would like to see him tried out as LD beside Carlson.
Orlov-Jensen?
Fehervary-TVR?
Even sit Fehervary on occasion. He’s been struggling recently, and didn’t have a strong 2nd half last year. I again ask, is it the system?
He has been struggling? What were you watching ?
And his last year was alright > whole team struggled in second part last year !
Fehervary was one of our best players defensively since his return ! Even after injury and even with his elbow not fully OK yet.
Also he has played in 3-rd pair with unstable partner > either Irwin or Alexyev none of whom is an NHL level defender anymore or yet ! And many times he played with different partner nearly every shift !
So Fehervary has been a lot of things recently but defo not struggling because of his fault > Every other has stable partner and top D next to him. He was hardly given that ! He plays 10 minutes a game when he Defends blue line nearly alone because of slow Irwin or not 100% ready AA. Still don’t get why two least experienced were paired.
But Do you even watch those games ? Fehervary has been playing very well since his return and honestly Defensively he is often our best player !
How long was Kempny down with the Bears on rehab?
I’d move Connor. He needs playing time and I don’t see it happening with the Caps right now. Especially not if Willy comes back next month.
Yep. Good point. There are likely two moves coming.
Hope he gets right and we can see him get an opportunity in DC. Been a rough couple seasons